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01 Apr 2015 9:33:44am

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just on the basis that the coalition plan has a minim pricetag of 15 bn plus contract cancel costs, plus compulsory acquisition costs paid for copper, plus costs for the cabinets, plus tieups with Energex and other local electricity suppliers (for the powered cabinets), plus the extra labour to lay another line (the power to the cabinet - and remembering the labour is THE largest single cost figure in the NBN plan) it is not possible for it to be 1/3 cheaper. particularly if Telstra are still going to ask 20bn for compulsory acquisition of the copper.

even giving a discount on the acquisition i count 15 bn plus 2 or 3 in contract costs - not just cancellation but rewrites to setup framework for the Coalition plan (which also will take time - remember it took on two years first go round), 13 bn for a discounted acquisition (tho i expect that to be more, im being kind to the Coalition plan here). with 10% fudge factor - more kindness - thats just on or over thirty of the current 37, and ive not included the cabinet costs themselves - for 70 or 80 thousand of them - or works to fit them up. ive not included the higher costs of rectification and maintenance of copper to VDSL standard. IOW ive LEFT OUT costs and its still tipping at least 3/4 of the current setup.

the only way it would be possible to be cheaper is by cutting back the % coverage, which would be a joke if you want to continue calling it a 'national' broadband network. on an apples to apples costing, for 93% coverage, the current spend is pretty good for what you get. if it blows out, then it might be possible to say otherwise but there have been three rounds of price sizing - the original so called 'napkin' count, the first modification after getting real world experience in 5 sites then the latest figures after Telstra and Optus agreed to sign over their lines, which changed the costing requirements again.